VIDEO // Government announces launch of local public administration reform and start of public consultations

The Government of the Republic of Moldova has announced the launch of local public administration reform and the start of an extensive process of public consultations.

Head of the State Chancellery Alexei Buzu stated that the reform aims to create more developed localities, stronger mayoralties, and better public services, closer to citizens. Alexei Buzu emphasized that the process will be complex and that the authorities are aware of existing concerns, which is why the Government is urging citizens, mayors, and civil society to actively participate in shaping the changes.

He noted that the preparation of the reform will have four stages: organizing broad public consultations, presenting the reform concept, holding discussions with citizens throughout the spring, and subsequently drafting and approving the legislative package in Parliament in the autumn. The first stage, considered essential, is the consultation phase, after which the final form of the reform will be determined.

In the coming weeks, the Government will hold discussions with mayors, experts, district and local authorities, as well as representatives of civil society. In parallel, the authorities will encourage the voluntary amalgamation of mayoralties by simplifying procedures, allocating additional financial resources, and providing operational support and guidance.

Alexei Buzu noted that the reform does not involve the disappearance of villages, but rather the merging of mayoralties, and that service provision centers will be created in the localities where the administration is relocated. These centers will bring together social assistants, social workers, the community police officer, and a community facilitator, so that citizens can obtain the necessary documents at a single point, through a one-stop shop.

The authorities state that the benefits of the reform will consist in more funds directed towards projects and public services and in reducing administrative costs, with the ultimate goal of improving the standard of living both in remote villages and in cities. The information was presented by Alexei Buzu in a public post. A video of the announcement was published on social media.